Jurgen Klopp explains personnel choice against Bournemouth

James Milner is set to start at right-back for Liverpool against Bournemouth today, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.

Jurgen Klopp has named five changes to the Reds lineup that overcame Burnley in midweek, with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Andy Robertson, Gini Wijnaldum and Fabinho all returning to the side.

With no recognised right-back in the team, Klopp has confirmed that James Milner will start there in his 500th Premier League appearance. Trent Alexander-Arnold is on the bench.

Klopp explained: “It’s no problem. I thought it could be a problem, but obviously he would have even played goalkeeper in game number 500!

“We need to be flexible, all of us, in the period – different positions, different jobs to do in the games. But it’s only slightly different and Millie knows it from his time at left-back.

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“We are a very offensive-orientated team, which means he is very often in a comfortable area. With his experience, and especially against Bournemouth with the counter-attack, you need all the defensive skills as well. Fraser, Brooks, Stanislas or whoever are all nice and speedy, King as well.

“It’s a job to do, but it’s nice to be part of the 500th Premier League game of Millie.”

Speaking on the rest of his changes Klopp admitted that they have to think about the upcoming fixture against Napoli, although focus remains on the game today.

“I don’t think any of the boys have to show they are ready for a test or whatever. It was clear when we built the squad for the season that we wanted to have opportunities like that,” he said.

“It’s never easy because for football, rhythm is a very important thing and if you have no rhythm, like you saw in the first half against Burnley, it makes life a bit uncomfortable, but that’s normal. Having that game was very, very important and then the second half showed everything is fine.

“Now we have to do the same again because it’s only three days since Burnley, and we play our next game in three days. We don’t think about Napoli in the moment, but we cannot ignore it from an intensity point of view.”